“PM Anutin” speeds up Hat Yai flood relief, Orders south security review

Today (February 17, 2026), Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul delivered a policy speech on security in the four southern border provinces and updated the situation of flood relief activities in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. He claimed that the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) has approved the compensation payments following earlier delays due to the election period. Flood victims will get 9,000 baht per household. He directed the Governor of Songkhla Province to work with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to quickly transfer the budget to the province without Cabinet approval. He also underlined the importance of expediting fund disbursement to the people and reporting the results to the Ministry of Interior.

PM Anutin added that the earlier delays were not due to administrative concerns. However, this was owing to the requirement to follow the Election Commission's procedures throughout the election. He also applauded the quick recovery efforts in Hat Yai and the adjacent provinces for returning the situation to normal. Furthermore, he directed all provinces to learn from the floods, particularly in terms of assisting disadvantaged groups, evacuating bedridden patients, and preventing future hospital flooding. He also directed the National Water Resources Office to hasten systemic remedies. This year, the government would spend around 40 billion baht on disaster assistance across the country, with full military and police backing to aid the population.

PM Anutin also stated that he had a meeting to assess the security situation in the southern region and expressed concern for the violence that took place in educational facilities. He directed all authorities to evaluate security measures in schools, communities, and public places to prevent a repetition, emphasizing that establishing a safe society is a shared responsibility that extends from the family and community to the government.